"To send up things from Vancouver is expensive."
"Sometimes you talk like a cotton manufacturer," Laura rejoined.
Jimmy colored but gave her a steady glance. "It's possible. My people are manufacturers; my grandfather was a workman. Not long since, I meant to cultivate out all that marked me as belonging to the cotton mill. Now I don't know— Perhaps I inherited something useful from my grandfather; but in the meantime it's not important. You are kind."
"Oh, well," said Laura. "You were moody and the doctor declared you had got a very nasty jolt."
"I was thoughtful. To some extent you're accountable. When one is forced to loaf one has time to ponder, and when you inquired if I knew where I went—"
He stopped, for a guide, carrying fishing rods and landing nets, went down the steps and Stannard came out of the hotel.
"Your party's waiting for you," Stannard remarked to Laura, who got up and gave Jimmy a smile.
"Get well and then ponder," she said and joined the others.
Jimmy frowned. The others, of course, ought not to wait for Laura, but Stannard had sent her off like that before. All the same, he was her father and Jimmy owned he must not dispute his rule. When the party had gone, Stannard sat down opposite Jimmy and lighted a cigarette.
"I'm glad to note you make good progress."